March 27, 2014 11:38 PM CDTMarch 27, 2014 11:38 PM CDTGym rats Billy Donovan, Steve Alford meet for first time with high stakes on line

Gym rats Billy Donovan, Steve Alford meet for first time with high stakes on line

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Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

MEMPHIS, TN - MARCH 27: Head coach Billy Donovan of the Florida Gators calls a play against the UCLA Bruins during a regional semifinal of the 2014 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at the FedExForum on March 27, 2014 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Billy Donovan and Steve Alford were gym rats as kids. They
went on to become high-scoring guards in high school and college.

Alford was Indiana’s all-time leader in points scored (2,438), steals (178)
and 3-point percentage (53.0) when he concluded his career after the Hoosiers’
national championship season in 1987.

Donovan was at that Final Four, playing for Providence under Rick Pitino. He
would have faced Alford in the title game had the Friars not lost to Syracuse in
the semifinals.

Although they have coached a combined 1,406 games over 27 years, they never
faced each other — until Thursday. Florida defeated UCLA, 79-68, to move one step closer to the Final Four. The Gators will face No. 11 seed Dayton on Saturday in the Elite Eight.

At one of the most high-profile programs, Alford walks by the John Wooden
statue every day. Pretty much everything required to build a champion was in
place when he arrived. Donovan built a national power from the ground floor.

His 18 seasons include four Final Fours with national titles in 2006 and
2007, and runner-up in 2000. The Gators have been to the Elite Eight the last
three seasons.

“I have the utmost respect for him, always have, as a player and as a coach,”
Alford said Wednesday. “He found his niche early at Florida. He found an
institution that supported him and provided the things that he needed to be
successful. Then he put his stamp on it in just about every way, shape and
form.

“It’s been fun to see because he’s one of the good guys in the business, and
I’ve always wished him the best.”

This is Alford’s second Sweet 16 as a coach. His other was with Missouri
State in 1999.

Florida has been the bane of UCLA’s tourney existence. The Gators knocked the
Bruins out of the Final Four twice, including the 2006 title game.

Cardinal coach in North Texas’ last Final Four: The year
before Alford and Donovan played in the Final Four, Stanford coach Johnny
Dawkins was at the 1986 Final Four at Reunion Arena in Dallas.

Although his Duke team lost to Louisville in the championship game, Dawkins
was the Naismith Player of the Year. The last time Stanford made a regional
semifinal was 2008, the season before Dawkins left his job as a Duke assistant
to take the head coaching gig at Stanford.

Breathing in the breaks: Dayton’s depth was a major factor
in the regular season. But its coach questions the effect in the NCAA
Tournament.

“With the media timeouts and the amount of time that is spent through the
full timeouts and whatnot, I’m not sure if depth’s really an issue,” coach
Archie Miller said. “Once you get late in the year, you’re fresh. When you’re on
this stage, it’s adrenaline.”

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